Nassau County recently paid tribute to the life and legacy of singer-songwriter Harry Chapin, Chapin, founder of Long Island Cares, died in a car accident in 1981 while en route to a concert in East Meadow. Corey Reiman and The Dilemma Band, consisting of Danny Reilert, Corey Reiman, Isabelle Boggs, Cody Bondra, Dom Barranco and Dave Solomon, performed his greatest hits. Story, more photos, Page 3.
By JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo jdalessandro@liherald.com
For those in search of farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, a must-visit destination is the weekly farmers market at Eisenhower Park in East Meadow.
The market is open on Saturdays, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., in parking field 8 — rain or shine.
Hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, the market features vendors from across Long Island offering healthy, affordable food options, arts and crafts, and other supplies.
Jennifer Hochuli, the extension’s food sys-
tems and agriculture program coordinator, has been involved with the farmers market every year since she joined the organization in 2021.
“We started very small,” she said. “We started with just the CCE Nassau farm stand and one vendor, and it’s grown substantially since then.”
The goal of the farmers market is to fulfill some of the extension’s main objectives, including promoting horticulture and nutrition in residential areas.
“We want to help people live healthy lifestyles,” she said. “I put it because we bring awareness to the benefits of eating farm fresh
$1.00
By JoRDAN VAlloNE & JoSEPH D’AlESSANDRo of
the Herald
State Democrats, including Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages and State Sen. Julia Salazar, visited the Nassau County Correctional Center in East Meadow on July 23, in order to inspect the conditions of cells being used by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.
According to a press briefing sent to the Herald from Salazar’s office on July 22, ICE has detained more than 1,400 New Yorkers at the East Meadow facility over the last five months through an agreement with County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
hometown of Elmont and several other communities, is chair of the state’s Black, Puerto Rican, Hispanic and Asian legislative caucus.
Nassau County has actively cooperated with ICE since February, when Blakeman announced that officers would collaborate with the federal agency in a “targeted” crackdown on undocumented immigrants with criminal backgrounds.
T he target is for people who are here illegally, who have committed a crime in New York state.
BRUCE BlAkEMAN County Executive
Salazar’s office stated that “none of the people Nassau police has handed over to ICE are violent criminals.”
Salazar, who represents parts of Brooklyn, is chair of the state commission on crime victims, crime, and correction. Solages, who represents her
The partnership included allocating 50 local jail cells for the federal agency to hold immigrants. Initially, Salazar and Solages were denied entry into the jail on Wednesday morning but later permitted to enter. There is a state law that allows elected officials to visit local correctional facilities “at pleasure” and without prior authorization.
Salazar is calling on the state legislature to convene a special section to pass “Dignity not Detention,” which would
Continued on page 10
Anne Frank The Exhibition, presented by Anne Frank House and Hosted at Center for Jewish History in New York City.
We had the tickets for ages, bought sometime in February in anticipation of the summer as we learned the event had been extended through Fall 2025. And although I had read the “Diary of Anne Frank” some time ago with an intention to reread it soon, I thought this recreation of the life Anne and her family spent in hiding might be the closest I would ever come to visiting her home in Amsterdam.
(To clarify, the exhibit shows a replica of furnished rooms in the Secret Annex. In Amsterdam the rooms are intentionally left unfurnished at the request of Otto Frank, Anne’s father, who wanted to preserve the space as it was after the family’s arrest).
admittedly somewhat elementary and as I write this I realize that this experience was the ultimate lesson for me — a better understanding what factors lead to the Holocaust and the world left in its wake.
Finishing the exhibition and coming out into the heat and sunshine of a New York City Sunday, my husband and I walked for a few blocks, working our way west from Union Square to Chelsea. Somber and silent, much like the way most visitors moved through the recreated rooms displayed, I could not break free of a cascade of emotions.
At home that night my husband read the day’s “This Date in History” in Newsday. “1942,” it read, “Anne Frank, her parents and sister entered a “secret annex” in an Amsterdam building…”
Greeted by guides and handed audio monitors that were no bigger than a cell phone, we made our way through displays that depicted not just the story of the Frank family, but the history of Europe for so many citizens. This was an examination of the before, during and after WWII via artifacts, photographs, videos and of course, Anne’s diary entries.
My knowledge of this history is
So it wasn’t just another Sunday with a museum excursion. Now it was a commemorative anniversary complete with the air of coincidence that could not have been planned even if we tried.
A contributing writer to the Herald since 2012, Lauren Lev is a direct marketing/ advertising executive who teaches marketing fundamentals as well as advertising and marketing communications courses at the Fashion Institute of Technology and SUNY Old Westbury.
In recognition of National Breastfeeding Month, Nassau University Medical Center will host a series of events from Aug. 4 to Aug. 7 to support and celebrate breastfeeding as a step toward healthier moms, babies, and communities.
The events will take place in Lobby 1 on the hospital’s first floor, across from Walgreens, at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike in East Meadow. Attendees can expect educational materials, raffles and gift baskets, and refreshments.
Activities will be held on Monday, Aug. 4, from 10 a.m. to noon; Tuesday, Aug. 5, from 3 to 5 p.m.; Wednesday, Aug. 6, from 10 a.m. to noon; and Thursday, Aug. 7, from noon to 2 p.m. All are welcome to join the celebration near the Women’s Clinic.
All are welcome to join the celebration near the Women’s Clinic.
–Jordan Vallone
By JACK SCHWED Intern
Long Island Cares celebrated its 45th anniversary in the way its founder — singer-songwriter Harry Chapin — loved most: with music. The local food bank held its annual benefit concert to honor Chapin’s legacy at Eisenhower Park on July 18.
The event kicked off with a live performance by Corey Reiman and The Dilemma Band, a party rock fusion group based in Connecticut.
Reiman reflected on his family’s connection with Chapin, explaining that one of his grandmothers owned a vast record collection, which included Chapin’s music, and his grandfather had met Chapin just weeks before his death.
“What an honor it is to be chosen to get to do this tonight,” Reiman said. “(My grandfather) said (Chapin) was maybe the sweetest, nicest man he’s ever met. One of the few times I saw my father upset was the day that he saw my grandfather upset over the loss of Harry Chapin.”
Katherine Fritz, Vice President for Development and Communications at Long Island Cares, followed by discussing the importance of community and compassion in combating food insecurity.
Throughout the event, the organization also hosted a food drive, encouraging attendees to donate food items to support local families in need. Something about how much was collected.
Chapin founded Long Island Cares in 1980 with the mission of feeding Long Island residents facing food insecurity. However, a year later, on his way to perform at a benefit concert, he tragically died in a car accident.
Since then, Long Island Cares has continued Chapin’s humanitarian efforts, and each year, they hold a concert to celebrate his legacy.
According to Feeding America, the largest charity working to end hunger in the U.S., approximately 313,880 people on Long Island experience food insecurity, 71,500 of whom are children. As a partner food bank of Feeding America, Long Island Cares is dedicated to addressing this critical issue.
Since 2023, the organization has distributed about 14 million pounds of food to Long Island families in need each year. Its support services have also expanded to nearly 400 community-based member agencies, including food pantries, soup kitchens and emergency shelters.
Long Island Cares set up a table at the event, sharing its mission and providing information on how individuals can get involved in its fight against hunger.
To learn more about the organization and its donation and volunteer opportunities, visit LICares.org.
Everyone knows that you may surrender a life insurance policy at any time for the “cash surrender value”. However, a better option may be a “life settlement” which pays more than the cash surrender value.
In a life settlement, you sell the policy to a third party instead of cashing it in. Here, the payment will be something greater than the cash surrender value but less than the death benefit. The buyer assumes the policy, pays the premiums and receives the death benefit.
There are many reasons why people want to cash in their policy. Paying the premiums have become a burden, they no longer need or want the death benefit or the money is needed for some other purpose.
There are some tax advantages to cashing in as well. Any money paid into the policy as premiums comes back to the seller tax-free (since the money used to pay the premiums was already taxed).
The purchaser of the policy will
determine the amount they are willing to pay for the policy based on the amount, if any, of the cash surrender value and the age and health of the seller. Since there are numerous companies out there you may “shop around” for the best offering. Some companies offer a “life settlement calculator” where you may go online, plug in all your information, and receive a quote within twenty-four hours.
You may hear of the term “viatical settlement” when exploring the issue of whether or not to cash in your policy. Viatical settlements generally pay more than life settlements but are limited to terminally ill policy holders with less than two years of life expectancy as determined by a medical professional.
Finally, if you want to do the best you can with your policy, but do not have the time or inclination to shop around, there are “life settlement brokers” who, for a fee, will do the shopping for you.
A Hempstead man was arrested after allegedly assaulting a nurse at Nassau University Medical Center in East Meadow on July 15 at 3 a.m., according to police.
Detectives said a 53-yearold woman was working as a nurse at the hospital, located at 2201 Hempstead Turnpike, when she went to check on a man who had been in a hallway bathroom for an extended period of time. When she opened the door, she saw the man — identified as Raul Guzman Campos, 40 of Hempstead — damaging the ceiling tiles with an unknown sharp object.
Campos allegedly charged at the nurse and struck her in the back with the object, causing her to fall and hit her head.
Officers from the Second Precinct, who were at the hospital on an unrelated assignment, heard the disturbance and took Campos into custody without incident.
The victim suffered a back laceration and head trauma and was treated at the hospital. No other injuries were reported. During the arrest, officers recovered a clear plastic bag with a
brown powdery substance believed to be heroin in Campos’ wallet.
Campos is charged with seconddegree assault, second-degree menacing, fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon, fourth-degree criminal mischief, and seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. He will be arraigned when medically practical.
–Jordan Vallone
A 61-year-old man is in critical condition following a medical emergency at an imaging facility in Westbury on July 16 around 4:34 p.m., police said.
According to detectives, officers responded to a 911 call for an aided case at Nassau Open MRI, located at 1570 Old Country Road. Upon arrival, officers were informed that the man had entered an MRI room without authorization while a scan was in progress.
The man was wearing a large metallic chain around his neck, which caused
him to be pulled into the MRI machine, resulting in a medical episode.
The Nassau County Police Department responded and transported the man to a nearby hospital, where he was listed in critical condition. An investigation ensued.
The NCPD reported on July 17 that the victim had died as a result of his injuries, and was declared deceased by a hospital physician on July 17.
By TONY BELLISSIMO tbellissimo@liherald.com
The Ryder Cup is coming to Bethpage State Park’s Black Course in Farmingdale Sept. 26 to 28 and preparations are in full swing for one of golf’s premier international events.
After three years of planning, work to install viewing stands, including two triple-deckers and eight double-deckers, with some flanking the first and 18th fairways, bleachers, hospitality tents and a large merchandise area began May 19 and will continue up until the first practice round Sept. 23.
“We’re expecting 50,000 fans per day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday,” 2025 Ryder Cup Director Bryan Karns said during a press conference held at Bethpage Black July 24. “Living in New York for the past few years and attending Jets, Yankees and Mets games, it’s an incredibly passionate fan base. Any time a major championship has come to Bethpage, the crowds have been remarkable. Fans are going to understand this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and they’re really going to value what it means to attend a Ryder Cup.”
Half a million fans registered for a lottery system used to purchase tickets said Evan Crowder, PGA of America Operations Manager. Tickets for the three scoring rounds of the tournament are sold out, though a handful remain for the Sept. 23 and 24 practice rounds.
Renowned for its degree of difficulty and rich history that includes hosting the U.S. Open (2002 and 2009) and PGA Championship (2019), Bethpage Black will have a slightly different look for the Ryder Cup with the tee box of the first hole — a 430-yard, par-4 — moving 30 yards closer to the pin and about 20 yards to the north for a clearer path to the green.
“The five most important holes at the Ryder Cup are the first, and 15 through 18 where the majority of matches are decided is set up incredibly well,” Karns said.
Added Kenny Kurzendoerfer, 2025 Ryder Cup Operations Manager: “This is where you want to be as a fan, where the first tee box and 18th green are in close proximity. It’s definitely a bucketlist moment to experience the first tee at a Ryder Cup. It’s truly unlike anything you’ve seen before in golf. I’ve been lucky to be a part of a few of them now and it still gives me chills.”
In terms of transportation to and from the course for fans, Jones Beach lots 4 and 5 will serve as the main public parking areas where shuttle service will be provided to Bethpage. Shuttles will also run from both the north and south side of the Farmingdale LIRR station, Crowder said. There will also be a ride-
by the
and behind
share lot on site at Yellow Course No. 11.
The Ryder Cup dates back to 1927, when the inaugural matchup was held at Worcester Country Club in Massachusetts. Initially a contest between the United States and Great Britain, the format expanded in 1979 to include players from continental Europe. The U.S. played host to the event in 2016 and most recently in 2021.
The event features 28 matches across three formats – foursomes, fourballs, and singles. Teamwork and strategy are essential to winning.
Although the 12-player rosters for both teams have yet to be announced,
some of the top U.S. players include Scottie Scheffler, Xander Schauffele, Bryson DeChambeau, and Collin Morikawa, with Europe featuring Rory McIlroy, Rasmus Hojgaard, Matt Wallace and Tyrrell Hatton.
The U.S. team selection is based on a points system, where points are awarded based on performance in PGA Tour events and major championships. Automatic qualifiers, with Scheffler already being one, will be the top six in points after the BMW Championship on Aug. 17. Captain Keegan Bradley will select the remainder of the roster Aug. 27, Karns noted.
By JORDAN VALLONE
jvallone@liherald.com
From lively concerts and delicious, locally-grown produce to cozy outdoor movie nights under the stars, East Meadow has something for everyone this August. Whether you’re looking to unwind with great music, stock up on fresh fruits and vegetables, or enjoy a family-friendly film in the open air, there’s no shortage of fun activities to check out. As the summer season begins to wind down, here are three must-attend events that promise to create lasting memories for the whole family:
Music lovers can enjoy a night under the stars at Speno Park as Wonderous Stories brings their eclectic rock sound to East Meadow on Wednesday, Aug. 13. Known for their dynamic covers of classic rock, progressive rock, and pop favorites, the band delivers something for everyone—from Beatles and Bowie to Genesis and Led Zeppelin. Grab a lawn chair or blanket and bring your friends for a lively evening of tunes and community vibes. The concert is free and open to all.
Start your Saturday mornings fresh with local produce, baked goods, flowers, and more at the East Meadow Farmers Market, held every Saturday in August from 9 a.m. to noon. Hosted by the Cornell Cooperative Extension of Nassau County, the market is located in Eisenhower Park at Parking Field 8. Whether you’re shopping for locally grown vegetables or just enjoying the friendly atmosphere, the market is a great way to support local farmers and artisans. There’s no entry fee. For more information, call (516) 832-2591.
Catch a family-friendly flick for free at the Lakeside Theatre in Eisenhower Park as the popular summer movie series wraps up this month. Screenings begin after sunset every Wednesday in August and include “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice” on Aug. 6, “Paddington in Peru” on Aug. 13, “Sonic 3” on Aug. 20, and “Wicked” on Aug. 27. It’s the perfect way to enjoy a summer evening — just bring a chair or blanket and some popcorn. For weather updates or more information, call (516) 5720335.
By Herald Staff
Cora Zabala, age 7
Bellmore
My favorite thing about summer is going to the Malibu Beach Club with my family and having lots of fun gatherings at my house.
I love taking my two kids on outdoor adventures, from exploring parks to enjoying family picnics in the sun!
Randi-Sirota-Camhi Bellmore
My favorite part of the summer is enjoying our fabulous Long Island beaches!
Every year, 25 fire departments from Nassau and Suffolk counties join together to create Camp Fahrenheit 516, sponsored by the Firefighters Association of the State of New York to train those ages 14 to 18 at the Nassau County Fire Academy in Bethpage for a weeklong training course in junior firefighting.
This summer, roughly 65 teenagers attended Camp Fahrenheit 516, with 13 from Lower Saxony Germany and two from Shrewsbury, Pennsylvania. Other participants included Jerry Presta, Nassau County Junior Firefighters Association chairman and vice chairman of FASNY’s Youth Committee, Paul Wilders, chief fire academy instructor, from the Nassau County Fire Service Academy and other FASNY representatives.
Camp Fahrenheit 516 hosted German junior firefighters this year to maintain its exchange relationship with Germany since the program sent its Long Island juniors to Germany last year for a summer abroad.
Throughout the five-day-long intensive, which started on July 21, the participants worked from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on courses like search and rescue, forcible entry, emergency evacuation procedures, fire extinguisher drills, and in honor of the program’s 10 year anniversary, alumni returned to the program to take part in a live fire evolution.
FASNY along with the Nassau County Fire Service Academy held a media day for Camp Fahrenheit 516 on July 24. Reporters were introduced to Long Island’s future firefighters and the intense training the junior firefighters underwent throughout their time through the program.
Recently, fire departments across the state have encountered challenges when looking for possible recruits. Firefighters have gotten more and more emergency calls ranging from medical emergencies,
flooded basements, car accidents and fires.
Camp Fahrenheit 516 was created to give junior firefighters a chance to train as firefighters and one day, have the opportunity to serve their community and become volunteer firefighters when they turn 18.
“We have the best firefighters in America,” County Executive Bruce Blakeman said in a news release, not-
ing that fire service academy will be given an additional $100,000 for Camp Fahrenheit. “They are the reason why we are the safest county in America. Our volunteer firefighters do an amazing job, and we’re so happy that we have our Junior firefighters here.”
–Samantha Wright
end ICE’s usage of the Nassau County jail. Her office said, “New York should not be helping ICE abduct or detain New Yorkers.”
At a news conference held after the tour, Salazar noted there are people detained by ICE in the jail “who have not been charged with a crime.” She added that her and Solages’ goal was to “observe the conditions of the facility” and “speak to individuals being detained.”
Salazar said that they did not observe egregious conditions. Detainees were being fed lunch and had access to medical care and to phones to call attorneys but added that some detainees were denied access to showers. Salazar also said she suspected that the detained immigrants are being held longer than the legal limit of 72 hours, the standard time set in place by federal agencies.
In total, there were 14 people being held in ICE cells on July 23.
One man from Huntington, Salazar said, stated that he is a business owner who has lived on Long Island for about 20 years. He was arrested on July 20, brought to the facility the same day, and when Salazar inquired if he knew when he would be leaving, he said he did not know.
Speaking on their initial denial into the facility, Salazar said she was glad that the state law was “eventually understood,” permitting them to access the jail.
“But once we were inside,” she added, “the administration sought to strictly limit our communication with detainees. Every time we wanted to see something, it was a debate with them, even though our requests were completely reasonable to observe the conditions.”
Solages, who is of Haitian descent, said it was “heartbreaking” to see individuals from her community being rounded up and detained by ICE.
■ Nassau County has provided 50 jail cells to ICE under a partnership announced by County Executive Bruce Blakeman.
■ More than 1,400 people have been held at the East Meadow facility in the past five months, according to state officials.
“I know that one day, in those cells, it’s going to be my neighbor, a store owner in Nassau County — it’s going to be someone that I personally know who has contributed to this state, who was a taxpayer, who had working papers, because this federal administration has been cruel to immigrants,” she said.
Blakeman, at a news conference on afternoon of July 23 in Mineola, walked reporters through the timeline of events, stating that Salazar and Solages showed up “unannounced” with staff and members of the media, which is what caused the delay in their entry. After it was advised they could enter the facility, within 40 minutes of their initial arrival, accommodations were set up to allow them to tour the jail safely.
“They got a thorough tour of the correctional facility, and I think they were
very satisfied — at least they indicated to our staff that they were satisfied with the accommodations that the sheriff’s office made and the county executive’s office made,” he said. “We welcome their visit. We’re happy that they came to come see if there are any misunderstandings or rumors, that those could be set aside by showing them what was going on (in the jail).”
The county, Blakemam said, receives $195 in reimbursements from the federal government per detainee.
Regarding Salazar’s statement that some detainees had not been permitted to shower, Blakeman said upon learning that he directed the sheriff’s department to make sure that each detainee is entitled to shower each day they’re at the facility.
Speaking on the claims that detain-
■ State Sen. Julia Salazar and Assemblywoman Michaelle Solages toured the jail July 23 after initially being denied entry. They cited concerns about access to showers and potential over detention.
Blakeman’s response
■ Blakeman said the partnership targets undocumented immigrants with criminal records.
ees may not have committed crimes, Blakeman said “in the majority of incidents” there has been criminal activity. “I can’t say all, because ICE does not share that information with us,” he said, “but the target is for people who are here illegally, who have committed a crime in New York state, so that is the criteria that was presented to us by ICE, and we believe that they are adhering to that criteria.”
By JORDAN VALLONE jvallone@liherald.com
In a spirited celebration of Christmas in July, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti, and the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots brought early holiday cheer to the young campers of Malibu Beach Camp — complete with a massive, fun-filled water gun fight and gift giveaway.
Timed shortly after National Water Gun Fight Day, the event added a splash of excitement to the summer heat, as campers joined in a playful competition: Team Town of Hempstead vs. Team Nassau County. Hundreds of water guns were donated by Toys for Tots, helping the children cool off while enjoying a day full of laughter and friendly rivalry.
“Events like these are a great way to have some fun, beat the heat, and create life-long memories for our young residents,” Clavin said. “Celebrating Christmas in July by having a giant water gun fight is a fun way to celebrate the season — it’s like a summer twist on a snowball fight.”
Ferretti, who helped secure the water guns with the help of Toys for Tots, shared his enthusiasm for the event and its impact on the campers. “Helping these campers have a blast and build friendships brings back memories for me,” he said. “I look forward to leading Team Nassau County to victory over Team Hempstead.”
The idea of Christmas in July dates back to 1933, when it was first celebrated at a summer camp like Malibu Beach Camp. Originally intended to bring some holiday spirit to campers and offer a break from the summer heat, the tradition has since grown into an annual celebration that emphasizes generosity and goodwill.
Early holiday cheer arrived at the Malibu Beach Camp in the Town of Hempstead last week for a
a
“For over 76 years, Toys for Tots has been an outstanding organization dedicated to making children smile,” Clavin said, thanking the group for their donation and longstanding commitment to giving back to the community.
“While we’re all here to have a great time with some friendly competition, let’s remember to play safely and
responsibly to ensure everyone enjoys the day to the fullest,” Clavin added. “Thank you once again to Legislator John Ferretti and especially the United States Marine Corps Toys for Tots program. Not only are they heroes for our country, but they’re also heroes for our community. I look forward to our continued partnership during the holiday season.”
If you’ve been turning up the TV or struggling in noisy conversations, it might be time for a hearing test— and Ear Works Audiolo gy is here to help. With 11 Long Island locations and a team led by Dr. Victoria Kopec and Dr. Toni Zanetti, Ear Works provides compassionate, personalized hearing care for every step of your journey.
According to audiologist Dr. Meredith Moore, common signs of hearing loss include increasing the TV volume, difficulty understanding speech, and avoiding group conversations. Loved ones often notice these issues first, and Dr. Moore recommends a
Dr. Meredith Moore
no-pressure approach to encourage that first appointment—even if it’s just to establish a baseline.
At your appointment, you can expect a comfor table, non-invasive visit that includes questions about your hearing history, an ear exam, and a 10- to 15-minute test involving tones and word reco gnition in both quiet and noisy settings.
If hearing aids are recommended, patients can try them out immediately in-office. Today’s devices are discreet, Bluetooth-enabled, and even offer tinnitus relief through pro grams like those from Widex. While over-the-
counter devices may seem convenient, they often lack customization and effective noise management.
What truly sets Ear Works Audiolo gy apar t is their commitment to tailored solutions and ongoing support. Whether you’re ready to act or just gathering infor mation, their team is here to guide you toward better hearing health.
Long Island
By CHARLES SHAW cshaw@liherald.com
Football players across Nassau County are getting a boost this season, thanks to a new partnership between the Town of Hempstead, Nassau County officials, and local sports organizations to collect and refurbish football gear for young athletes in need.
Town Supervisor Don Clavin joined dozens of players, coaches, and supporters at MacLaren Stadium in Levittown on July 15 to announce the start of a football equipment collection drive. The initiative is a collaborative effort between the town, Nassau County, and local youth football groups, including the Garden City Thunder and the Southern State Seminoles.
“The importance of organized recreation and teamplay is never lost on us in the Town of Hempstead, and we are proud to team up with local football enthusiasts to help young football players who need some equipment upgrades,” Clavin said during the announcement. “A young athlete should never be limited by equipment costs, and this program will make football a more accessible sport for our youth.”
The idea for the drive began as a local effort led by Peter Hamilton, a middle school football player for the Garden City Thunder. After seeing its early success, Clavin reached out to help grow the initiative into a townwide program. With support from Nassau County Legislator John Ferretti, the program is also expanding its reach throughout the county.
“This is what I love about our local sports organizations – they bring communities together and teach invaluable lessons in teamwork, discipline, and perseverance,” Ferretti said. “This donation drive ensures every child has the opportunity to play and grow, both on and off the field.”
At MacLaren Stadium in Levittown on July 15, Hempstead Town Supervisor Don Clavin, right, announced the start of a football equipment collection drive throughout the Town of Hempstead.
Starting Wednesday, July 16, residents are encouraged to drop off gently used football gear at five collection sites located across the Town of Hempstead. The equipment will be refurbished before being distributed to youth football programs. Collection locations include:
Donation boxes will be available at Hempstead Town Hall in Hempstead, Echo Park Pool and Cherry
AUGUST 6TH |
Valley Ball Fields in West Hempstead, Newbridge Road Park in Bellmore, and Levittown Hall in Hicksville.
“This is a communal effort for the future generation of athletes,” Clavin said. “We look forward to collecting tons of football gear and equipping young athletes to ensure a safe, successful season of football.”
The drive will continue through the start of the fall football season in September.
By Roksana Amid
As sundown takes hold at Morgan Memorial Park on Aug. 2, artists representing a rich spectrum of dance styles — from classical ballet and folklorico to tap, contemporary and hip-hop — take to a stage. The fifth annual Gold Coast Dance Festival — set against the backdrop of the Long Island Sound — is a grand celebration of culture, movement and community connection.
Hosted by New York Dance Theatre, the free event attracts folks to see a varied lineup of dancers from Alvin Ailey, Dance Theatre of Harlem, New York City Ballet, Broadway, and more. This year’s edition also includes Ballet Nepantla, a returning favorite known for blending traditional Mexican folklorico with contemporary dance.
“Ballet Nepantla are an astounding company,” Festival Executive Producer Nicole Loizides Albruzzese says. “They’ve been noted as embodying the in-between-ness of those who live on the borderland, mixing in cultures and gaining a little bit from either side.”
Founded in 2020 during the Covid-19 pandemic, this began as an informal gathering of dancers organized by Albruzzese, a professional performer and Glen Cove resident. She invited a few colleagues to Planting Fields Arboretum in Oyster Bay as a way to decompress from the emotional toll of the lockdown. This experience inspired her to bring a professional dance festival to Glen Cove the following year.
“Because the world just stopped talking to one another, stopped dining together, we wanted to create something that brought people together without the need for words,” Albruzzese says. “Dance can do that.”
Since then, the festival has grown to involve dozens of performers and companies, including John Manzari, a renowned Broadway tap dancer and featured artist from “So You Think You Can Dance,” and MorDance, a contemporary ballet company based in Yonkers. This will be MorDance’s first appearance here.
For those inspired to dance themselves, join Jamie Shannon of Kilowatt Dance Theater for an introductory Lindy Hop class on the beach at 4:30 p.m., open to all ages and skill levels, before performances begin.
“Lindy Hop is one of America’s beloved early social dances, stemming from jazz and Harlem and a beautiful social era,” Albruzzese explains. “Bring your dinner down, enjoy a class, and go see a show. You get a more intimate look at the artists beforehand, and then you get to see them on stage.”
New York Dance Theatre, which is celebrating its 51st year, produces the festival through its nonprofit mission to make high-level dance accessible to all audiences.
•
The company also runs the Développé program, a a scholarship initiative that provides free yearlong dance education to atrisk youth, foster families and English-language learners across Long Island.
Développé partners with community organizations, including Options for Community Living, which supports families experiencing homelessness and financial hardship. One of the newest scholarship recipients is an 11-year-old girl who had never taken a dance class before this summer.
“She leaves the studio glowing,” Albruzzese says. “She’s one of the most graceful dancers in the class. Starting classical dance between the ages of 11 and 14 can be intimidating, but she’s handling it so beautifully.”
A suggested festival donation of $20 supports the Développé program. Contributions help fund workshops, lectures, performances and scholarships provided by NYDT throughout the year.
Albruzzese says the festival is designed to be inclusive, welcoming people of all backgrounds and abilities.
“A woman came up to me last year and said, ‘It’s not so often I find something to do with my mom or my grandmother,’” she recalls. “Her grandmother was 92 and squealing with excitement watching the performances. That’s what this is about. You can just grab a park bench, sit on the grass and stay for five minutes or the entire evening.”
Graceanne Pierce, a Queens resident and New York Dance Theatre artist, takes the stage this year.
Last year’s featured performers represented Haiti, China, Iraq, and Mexico. Each year’s lineup is curated to reflect global traditions and storytelling through movement, according to Albruzzese.
“I think because we offer such a huge, diverse array of cultural programming, everyone leaves loving something. We birthed a star, and it’s shining everywhere. It’s benefiting the artists, the audience and our local cultural institutions,” she adds enthusiastically.
Attendees are encouraged to bring blankets, beach chairs and picnic dinners.
‘So in love with you am I’
Check out a stylized concert version of the classic golden age musical. Egotistical leading man-directorproducer Fred Graham (Broadway’s Charlie Marcus) is reunited with his ex-wife, Lilli Vanessi (Broadway talent Christina DeCicco, of Rockville Centre) when the two are forced to play opposite one another in a new production of Shakespeare’s “Taming of the Shrew.” The battle of the sexes continues onstage and off, as it becomes clear that, as much as this couple profess to hate each other, they are also still in love. Throw in a number of cases of mistaken identity, the mob, and comedic routines into the mix and you get “Kiss Me, Kate” — a dazzling Broadway classic that earned the very first Tony award for Best Musical. A cast of 30 brings this “concert” production to life with limited costumes and scenic elements. The dynamic performers include Molloy’s renowned CAP21 Musical Theatre Conservatory students and also alumni.
Saturday and Sunday, Aug. 2-3, 3 p.m. Molloy University, 1000 Hempstead Ave., Rockville Centre. Tickets available at madisontheatreny.org or call (516) 323-4444.
Illusionist Leon Etienne has sold out venues all over the world with his blockbuster performances of Magic Rocks! Now he arrives here with his jaw-dropping, critically acclaimed hit show. You’ve seen him on “America’s Got Talent,” “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon, “Masters of Illusion,” and “Penn & Teller: Fool Us!” Hailed by critics as “America’s Rock Illusionist,” Leon is a worldwide hit with audiences, critics and producers. He’s recognized for his onstage charisma, a fast-paced, high energy, rock n’ roll performance style — and his no-nonsense approach to magic. This interactive, family-friendly spectacular showcases mind-blowing tricks, award-winning sleight of hand and non-stop laughter. Perfect for audiences of all ages, it’s an immersive experience filled with wonder, laughter and jaw-dropping moments you won’t soon forget. Etienne’s performance style attracts worldwide attention; join in this unforgettable night of magic and you’ll see why.
Sunday, Aug. 3, 7 p.m. $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25, $31.25. The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington. Tickets available at ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
Summer sounds
Christopher Macchio joins the Nassau Pops at Eisenhower Park for “Opera and the Classics.” Enjoy a lively evening that’s both familiar and unexpected.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
On Exhibit
Nassau County Museum of Art’s latest exhibition, “At Play,” surveys artists’ perennial fascination with entertainment in all forms. Framing this topic between the nineteenth century Belle Époque and today, the exhibit includes works by Pablo Picasso, Reginald Marsh, Everett Shinn, and Max Beckmann among many others. The works are gathered to represent a wide range of expressions, from entertainmentrelated activities to the fascinating personalities involved. It encompasses dance, music, theater, movies, circus, boating, and beach scenes, along with horseracing and various sports, both active and passive Also featured are archival items from The Metropolitan Opera and the New York Philharmonic, including costumes by Marc Chagall for Die Zauberflöte, vintage fashion items by such designers as Alfred Shaheen, and iconic costumes from the Folies-Bergère in Paris. On view until Nov. 9.
•Where: 1 Museum Drive, Roslyn Harbor
•Time: Ongoing
•Contact: nassaumuseum.org or (516) 484-9337
Summer tunes
AUG 1
Rock on with Half Step’s tribute to the Grateful Dead at Eisenhower Park.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
•Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
2
Bring the kids to Old Westbury Gardens for another storybook adventure Stroll the gardens and enjoy a telling of Eva Moore’s “Lucky Duckings.” With a take-home craft. For ages 3-5. Storybook Strolls start at the Beech Tree (next to Westbury House), and end at the Thatched Cottage.
•Where: 71 Old Westbury Road, Old Westbury
•Time: 10:30-11:30 a.m.
•Contact: oldwestburygardens. org or call (516) 333-0048
In concert
Enjoy Lady Supreme, a Diana Ross Experience, at Eisenhower Park.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
•Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Mercy Hospital offers a peerto-peer breastfeeding support group facilitated by a certified counselor. Open to new moms with babies from newborn to 1 year, regardless of delivering hospital. Registration required.
•Where: St. Anne’s Building, 1000 North Village Ave., Rockville Centre.
•Time: Ongoing Thursdays, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Anderson’s painstaking attention to detail includes wearing gorgeous, colorful and spectacular costumes, including Elton’s iconic boots, glasses and jumpsuits from 1973, as well as a sparkly Swarovski tuxedo from 1984. $82, $71.75, $60.25, $49.25, $37.25, $35. AUG
Remember when rock was young? You will after this enthralling show, on the Paramount stage. Blast off into the stratosphere with this electrifying tribute to the Rocketman himself. With a nostalgic setlist that’ll take you right back to when rock was young, this is a must-see for Elton John fans — of all generations. Rus Anderson, Elton John’s official body double for his Farewell Yellow Brick Road world tour launch, recreates an early Elton concert complete with flamboyant costumes actually worn by Elton himself.
Elton’s greatest hits, wildest outfits and outrageous stage antics come to life again as Anderson recreates the magic and live persona of a young Elton like no other. He storms around the stage with a fun-loving sense of flamboyance; part diva, part soccer player, killer vocalist, fierce piano player, all rock ‘n roller. This is a detailed re-creation of Elton John’s ‘70s shows that’s not to be missed.
•Where: The Paramount, 370 New York Ave., Huntington
• Time: 8 p.m.
•Contact: ticketmaster.com or paramountny.com
•Contact: Call Gabriella Gennaro at (516) 705-2434
In concert
The annual Salute to Veterans concert, returns to Eisenhower Park, featuring American Bombshells and Rolling Stones tribute band Streetfighter.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 6:45 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
AUG 3
Dr. Patricia Osiris visits with young paleontologistsin-training at Long Island Children’s Museum’s new stage production. This interactive theatrical experience invites visitors to join eccentric paleontologist Dr. Patricia Osiris (a.k.a. “Dr. Patti”) as she attempts to reveal a neverbefore-seen dinosaur specimen — if only she can figure out how to open the crate it’s locked in. Along the way, the audience becomes key players in solving problems, sparking laughter and exploring the world of dinosaurs in a lighthearted “scientific” comedy that blends imagination and learning. $5 with museum admission, $10 theater only.
•Where: Museum Row, Garden City
•Time: 11 a.m. and 1 p.m.; also Aug 6
•Contact: licm.org or (516) 224-5800
Military notes
Eisenhower Park welcomes the 42nd Infantry Division Band and the N.Y. Army National Guard.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Fun
Step into the shoes of a paleontologist in this handson art and science activity at Long Island Children’s Museum. Create fossil rubbing art to take home at the drop-in program. For ages 3 and up.
•Where: Museum Row, Garden City
• Time: 11 a.m.-1 p.m.
•Contact: licm.org or call (516) 224-5800
Session with the Plant Man
Paul Levine, the East Meadow Library’s Plant Man, leads a lesson on plants that grow in water.
•Where: 1886 Front St.
• Time: 2 p.m.
•Contact: eastmeadow.info
The luck of the Irish returns to Eisenhower Park at Irish American Nigh. With food, performances and other fanfare.
•Where: Eisenhower Park, Field 6/6A
• Time: 7 p.m.
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
6
Enjoy a movie under the stars at Eisenhower Park. Enjoy Tim Burton’s “Beetlejuice Beetlejuice,” Set more than three decades after the first film, it follows Lydia Deetz, now a mother, struggling to keep her family together in the wake of a loss as Betelgeuse returns to haunt her. Starring Alec Baldwin, Geena Davis, Michael Keaton.
•Where: Harry Chapin Lakeside Theatre, East Meadow
•Time: Movie begins at dusk
•Contact: nassaucountyny.gov
Music Documentary Film Festival
The Long Island Music and Entertainment Hall of Fame opens its first film festival. On the schedule are 24 feature length and short music documentary films from around the world. The roster, curated by the festival’s Executive Director Tom Needham and Artistic Director Wendy Feinberg, includes a blend of films. The lineup includes a wide range of music genres, including classical, hip-hop, rock, jazz, ska, blues and folk, among others. Other highlights include filmmaker Q&A panels, opening and closing night parties, and expected performances by Billy J Kramer, Guggenheim Grotto’s Mick Lynch, Public Enemy’s DJ Johnny Juice, Naked Blue , Brady Rymer, Jennifer Silecchia-Hackett, Sandra Taylor, and Mega Infinity.
•Where: 97 Main St., Stony Brook
•Time: Starting at 11 a.m., through Aug. 10
•Contact: Check limusichalloffame.org for full schedule
Having an event?
Items on the Calendar page are listed free of charge. The Herald welcomes listings of upcoming events, community meetings and items of public interest. All submissions should include date, time and location of the event, cost, and a contact name and phone number. Submissions can be emailed to kbloom@ liherald.com.
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE
SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU
THE BANK OF NEW YORK MELLON, F/K/A THE BANK OF NEW YORK AS TRUSTEE FOR REGISTERED HOLDERS OF CWABS, INC., ASSET-BACKED CERTIFICATES, SERIES
2005-9, Plaintiff AGAINST PATRICIA
FREUDENBERG, ET AL., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered October 23, 2023, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 7, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 1733 Andrea Road, East Meadow, NY 11554. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 50 Block: 556 Lot: 1. Approximate amount of judgment $627,019.68 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #615071/2018. Ronald J. Ferraro, Esq., Referee Tromberg, Morris & Partners, PLLC 39 Broadway, Suite 1250 New York, NY 10006 25-000683 85678 154448
LEGAL NOTICE
NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURTCOUNTY OF NASSAU U.S. BANK NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, AS TRUSTEE FOR MASTR ADJUSTABLE RATE MORTGAGES TRUST 2007-1 MORTGAGE PASS-THROUGH CERTIFICATES, SERIES 2007-1, Plaintiff, Against KAREN JONES A/K/A
KAREN B. JONES A/K/A
KAREN B. LICHTENSTIEN, ET AL, Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale, duly entered 03/24/2023, I, the undersigned Referee, will sell at public auction, on the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on 8/12/2025 at 3:00PM, premises
known as 769 Van Buren Avenue, East Meadow, New York 11554, and described as follows:
ALL that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements thereon erected, situate, lying and being at East Meadow, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York.
Section 50 Block 436 Lot 4
The approximate amount of the current Judgment lien is $765,254.16 plus interest and costs. The Premises will be sold subject to provisions of the aforesaid Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale; Index # 601311/2019
If proper social distancing cannot be maintained or there are other health or safety concerns, the then Court Appointed Referee will cancel the Foreclosure Auction. This Auction will be held rain or shine.
Peter Kramer, Esq., Referee. (516) 510-4020 MCCABE, WEISBERG & CONWAY, LLC, 10 Midland Avenue, Suite 205, Port Chester, NY 10573
Dated: 6/3/2025 File Number: 16-301208 CA 154549
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU Flagstar Bank, N.A., Plaintiff AGAINST Kelvin Puello a/k/a Kelvin R. Puello, Wendy Puello, Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered July 5, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 11, 2025 at 2:30 PM, premises known as 518 Benine Road, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Westbury, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 10, Block: 325, Lot: 6. Approximate amount of judgment $715,871.39 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index
#602386/2020. For sale information, please visit Auction.com at www.Auction.com or call (800) 280-2832. Wayne Wink, Esq., R eferee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-093408-F00 86078 154440
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU MCLP ASSET COMPANY, INC., Plaintiff AGAINST RICHARD ORTIZ, ET AL., Defendant(s)
Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 16, 2024, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 12, 2025 at 2:00 PM, premises known as 7 Mockingbird Lane, Levittown, NY 11756. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being at Levittown, near Hicksville, Town of Hempstead, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section 45, Block 172, Lot 0048. Approximate amount of judgment $585,728.31 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #604115/2018. Ralph J. Madalena, Esq., Referee Gross Polowy, LLC 1775 Wehrle Drive Williamsville, NY 14221 19-001737 86198 154446
LEGAL NOTICE
SUMMONS Supreme Court of New York, Nassau County. GITSIT SOLUTIONS LLC, NOT IN ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY BUT SOLELY IN ITS CAPACITY AS SEPARATE TRUSTEE OF GITSIT MORTGAGE LOAN TRUST BBPLC1, Plaintiff, -againstUNKNOWN HEIRS AND DISTRIBUTEES OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A
MARION B. MARINO; DENISE P. MARINO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A MARION B. MARINO; NEIL JOSEPH MARINO A/K/A NEIL JOSEPH MARINO, JR., AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A
MARION B. MARINO; MADELINE K. MARINO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A MARION B. MARINO; MARYANN M. RAZZANO A/K/A MARYANN MARINO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A
MARION B. MARINO; PETER J. MARINO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A MARION B. MARINO; MARIETTE E. MARINO, AS HEIR AND DISTRIBUTEE OF THE ESTATE OF MARIAN B. MARINO A/K/A MARION B. MARINO; MASSIMO GALLONE; PARKER JEWISH INSTITUTE FOR HEALTH CARE AND REHABILITATION; NEW YORK STATE DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION AND FINANCE; UNITED STATES OF AMERICA (EASTERN DISTRICT) O/B/O INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE; “JOHN DOE” AND “JANE DOE” said names being fictitious, it being the intention of Plaintiff to designate any and all occupants of the mortgaged premises to be foreclosed herein, Defendants Index No. 601775/2025.
Mortgaged Premises: 2228 1st Street East Meadow, NY 11554
Section: 50 Block: 213 Lots: 10, 11, 12, and 13 TO THE ABOVE NAMED
DEFENDANTS: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED to answer the Complaint in the above captioned action and to serve a copy of your Answer on the Plaintiff’s attorney within twenty (20) days after the service of this Summons, exclusive of the day of service, or within thirty (30) days after completion of service where service is made in any other manner than by personal delivery within the State. The United States of America, if designated as a Defendant in this action, may answer or appear within sixty (60) days of service hereof. In case of your failure to appear or answer, judgment will be taken against you by default for the relief demanded in the Complaint. NOTICE OF NATURE OF ACTION AND RELIEF SOUGHT THE OBJECTIVE of the above captioned action is to foreclose on a
reverse mortgage to secure $$600,000.00 and interest, recorded in the Nassau County Clerk’s Office on November 2, 2011, in Liber Book M 36531, on Page 439, Control Number 2608, covering the premises known as 2228 1st Street, East Meadow, NY 11554. The relief sought herein is a final judgment directing sale of the premises described above to satisfy the debt secured by the mortgage described above. Plaintiff designates Nassau County as the place of trial. Venue is based upon the County in which the mortgaged premises is located.
NOTICE YOU ARE IN DANGER OF LOSING YOUR HOME If you do not respond to this summons and complaint by serving a copy of the answer on the attorney for the mortgage company who filed this foreclosure proceeding against you and filing the answer with the court, a default judgment may be entered and you can lose your home. Speak to an attorney or go to the court where your case is pending for further information on how to answer the summons and protect your property. Sending a payment to your mortgage company will not stop this foreclosure action. YOU MUST RESPOND BY SERVING A COPY OF THE ANSWER ON THE ATTORNEY FOR THE PLAINTIFF (MORTGAGE COMPANY) AND FILING THE ANSWER WITH THE COURT.
FRIEDMAN VARTOLO, LLP 1325 Franklin Avenue, Suite 160 Garden City, NY 11530, Attorneys for Plaintiff. 154486
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF SALE SUPREME COURT COUNTY OF NASSAU NewRez LLC d/b/a Shellpoint Mortgage Servicing, Plaintiff AGAINST Anna C. Napoli, As Trustee Of The Juan Adalberto Gonzalez Irrevocable Living Trust, Juan Adalberto Gonzalez, et al., Defendant(s) Pursuant to a Judgment of Foreclosure and Sale duly entered April 21, 2025, I, the undersigned Referee will sell at public auction at the North Side steps of the Nassau County Supreme Court, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 18, 2025 at 3:00 PM, premises known as 336 Sylvan Lane, Westbury, NY 11590. All that certain plot piece or parcel of land, with the buildings and improvements erected, situate, lying and being in the Incorporated Village of Westbury, County of Nassau and State of New York, Section: 10, Block: 316, Lot: 2. Approximate amount of judgment $527,199.49 plus interest and costs. Premises will be sold subject to provisions of filed Judgment Index #613758/2023. For sale information, please contact XOME at www.Xome.com or call (844) 400-9633. Paul Meli, Esq., Referee Frenkel Lambert Weisman & Gordon, LLP 53 Gibson Street Bay Shore, NY 11706 01-097947-F00 86232 154586
both sides with lot area occupied variance., W/s Diamond Ave., 321.45’ N/o First Ave., a/k/a 128 Diamond Ave. 416/25. EAST MEADOW - Christopher Hubbard, Variances, lot area occupied, front yard average setback, side yard, side yards aggregate, construct 2-story addition, 1-story addition, roofed over open porch, convert existing garage to living space, covered patio with outdoor kitchen & fireplace & A/C units all attached to dwelling., S/s Rowehl Dr., 273.53’ W/o Hilda St. a/k/a 2700 Rowehl Dr. THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 2:00 P.M. 433/25. LEVITTOWNLevittown Mews Associates LP, Variance in off-street parking (construct restaurant) (Tony’s Tacos)., N/s Hempstead Tpke., 328’ E/o Jerusalem Ave., a/k/a 3333, 3335 & 3349 Hempstead Tpke. S.E.Q.R. determination not made. ALL PAPERS PERTAINING TO THE ABOVE HEARING ARE AVAILABLE FOR INSPECTION AT THE BOARD OF APPEALS, TOWN HALL, 1 WASHINGTON STREET, HEMPSTEAD, NY 11550.
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING BY THE BOARD OF APPEALS Pursuant to New York State Town Law Article 16, New York State Public Officers Law Article 7, and the Town of Hempstead Building Zone Ordinance, NOTICE is hereby given that the BOARD OF APPEALS of the Town of Hempstead will hold a public hearing in the Old Town Hall, 350 Front Street, Room 230, Second Floor, Hempstead, New York on 08/06/2025 at 9:30
A.M. & 2:00 P.M. to consider the following applications and appeals: THE FOLLOWING CASES WILL BE CALLED STARTING AT 9:30 A.M.
408/25. EAST MEADOW - Amanda Stewart, Special exception to construct second accessory structure (pergola) higher & larger than permitted, exceeding horizontal maximum on
LEGAL NOTICE At a Term of this Court, IAS Part 5, held in and for the County of Nassau at the Courthouse located at 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, New York on the 7th day of July, 2025. SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, COUNTY OF NASSAU, PRESENT: HON. JEROME C. MURPHY, J.S.C. In the Matter of the Application of ZOGRAFOS BARKOURAS, Petitioner -against- TERRA FIRMA RESTORATIONS, INC. and ANDREAS BARKOURAS, Respondent, For corporate dissolution pursuant to NY BCL 1104 and other relief. Upon reading and filing the verified petition of ZOGRAFOS BARKOURAS, a 50% shareholder in TERRA FIRMA RESTORATIONS, INC., verified on July 3, 2025, Let the respondents TERRA FIRMA RESTORATIONS, INC., ANDREAS BARKOURAS, the State Tax Commission, the Attorney General and all interested persons, show cause by submission of opposition papers at IAS Part 5 of Supreme Court, Nassau County, to be held at the Courthouse, 100 Supreme Court Drive, Mineola, NY 11501 on August 18, 2025, at 9:30 a.m., or as soon thereafter as counsel can be heard, why an order should not be issued dissolving the corporation pursuant to BCL § 1104; and why an order should not be issued requiring the Corporation, its officers and directors to furnish a schedule of the corporate assets and liabilities and the name and address of each shareholder and of each creditor and claimant, including any with unliquidated or contingent claims, and any with whom the corporation has unfulfilled contracts; Sufficient reason appearing therefor, it is ORDERED, that a copy of this Order shall be published in East Meadow Herald, 2 Endo Blvd., Garden City, NY once in each of the three weeks before the time appointed for the hearing thereon; and it is further, ORDERED, that a copy of this Order and the documents on which it is based shall be served upon the respondents, the State Tax Commission, the Attorney General, and all other interested parties, in the manner prescribed in BCL § 1106, and that hard copies of all papers are to be submitted to the Court by the time of submission. E N T E R, Jerome C. Murphy, J.S.C. 154639
This notice is only for new cases in East Meadow & Levittown within Town of Hempstead jurisdiction. There are additional cases in different hamlets, towns and villages on the Board of Appeals calendar. The full calendar is available at https://hempsteadny.go v/509/Board-of-Appeals The internet address of the website streaming for this meeting is https://hempsteadny.go v/576/Live-StreamingVideo
Interested parties may appear at the above time and place. At the call of the Chairman, the Board will consider decisions on the foregoing and those on the Reserve Decision calendar and such other matters as may properly come before it.
154814
LEGAL NOTICE NOTICE OF FORMATION OF LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY. NAME: Your Tax Wiz, LLC. Articles of Organization were filed with the Secretary of State of New York, (SSNY) on
produce and supporting local businesses.”
According to Hochuli, “the organization is committed to building healthy lifestyles and sustainable communities by conducting high quality educational programs that connect Cornell University knowledge and research to community needs for all people in the counties.”
“I’m very mission-oriented,” she said, “and the market is very much dedicated to that in its own regard.”
We want to help people live healthy lifestyles
JENNiFEr HoCHuli
Food systems & agricultural coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension
The farmers market is an important entryway to bring local residents in touch with their neighbors, local businesses and environmental causes by creating a communal gathering space.
“Farmers markets don’t just happen there,” Hochuli said. “There’s a lot that goes into them, and I think that they are really an important element of the community. I want to give them access to farm fresh produce, locally made goods, and just help them be healthier.”
Every year, the market has grown to bring in new vendors, strengthening commerce for all Long Islanders.
“The other side of that is helping out small business owners,” she said. “It helps stimulate the local economy — you help local farmers, you increase access to fresh food.”
Kathy Scalzo, founder of the ecofriendly Backyard Bees in Oyster Bay, sells fresh honey from her many buzzing beehives every week at Eisenhower Park.
“I joined this market because it is sponsored by Cornell,” she said. “It has features that not all markets have, and there’s just a really nice education piece to it.
“It’s small, it’s intimate, but it has everything that you need,” Scalzo added. “It has produce, it has meat, it has honey, it has something sweet.
“We have sustainable body products that are packaged with plastic free so we do deodorant, shampoo, lip balm. And it’s kind of a triangle — good for the bees, good for the environment and good for you.”
When: Saturdays, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Eisenhower Park, Parking Field 8
One of the vendors, Mary Schneider, of Schneiders Farm in Melville, makes the trek to Eisenhower Park to sell flowers and vegetables at the farmers market. The Schneider family is originally from East Meadow, making the market a delightful opportunity for them to return to their roots.
“We were approached by Jennifer four years ago,” Schneider said. “The timing was perfect, and it’s been a great collaboration.
“It’s another option of not shopping in a big box store,” she added. “You know where your products are coming from, you’re speaking directly to the grower, and everything is locally sourced. You’re getting your best, freshest quality.”
Jennifer Hochuli and dani Vasquez, 8, promote the Cornell Cooperative extension at the organization’s weekly farmers market in eisenhower park.
NYSED Fingerprint Clearance required Candidates should email
Help Wanted
Administrative Assistant
P/T Leading To F/T
Various Office Duties Must Be Proficient In Word And Outlook Will Train Right Candidate $20/Hour
Email Resume To: jwpersonal@ wilsoncollegeconsulting.com No Phone Calls Or In-Person Inquiries
Full Time and Part Time Positions Available!
Busy Print Shop in Garden City is Hiring Immediately for Full Time and Part Time Drivers. Must Have a Clean License and BoxTruck Driving Experience. Hours Vary, Salary Ranges from $17 per hour to $21 per hour Night Availability is a Must. Please Email Resume to careers@liherald.com or Call (516)569-4000 x239
DRIVING INSTRUCTOR
Company Car/ Bonuses. Clean Driving Record Required, Will Train. Retirees Welcome!
$22 - $27/ Hour Bell Auto School 516-365-5778
Email: info@bellautoschool.com
Part Time & Full Time. The award-winning Herald Community Newspapers group, covering Nassau County's North and South Shores with hard-hitting news stories and gracefully written features, seeks a motivated, energetic and creative editor/reporter to join our dynamic (and awesome) team! This education and general assignment reporting position offers a unique experience to learn from some of the best in the business. Historically, reporters who have launched their careers with us have gone on to The New York Times, Newsweek, Newsday, the New York Daily News, New York Post, CNN, BBC, NBC News and The Daily Mail, among many others. We look for excellent writers who are eager to learn, enhance their skills, and become well-established and respected journalists in our industry. Salary range is from $20K to $45K To apply: Send a brief summary in the form of a cover letter describing your career goals and what strengths you can bring to our newsroom, along with a resume and three writing samples to jbessen@liherald.com
MAILROOM/ WAREHOUSE HELP
Long Island Herald has IMMEDIATE openings for a FULL-TIME & PART-TIME mailroom/warehouse helper in Garden City. We are a busy print shop looking for motivated and reliable individuals to assist in various duties in the shop. Forklift experience is a plus and heavy lifting is required. Hours vary, so flexibility is key. Salary Ranges fromo $16.50 per hour to $20 per hour. Email resumes or contact info to careers@liherald.com
MULTI MEDIA ACCOUNT DEVELOPMENT
Inside Sales
Looking for an aggressive self starter who is great at making and maintaining relationships and loves to help businesses grow by marketing them on many different advertising platforms. You will source new sales opportunities through inbound lead follow-up and outbound cold calls. Must have the ability to understand customer needs and requirements and turn them in to positive advertising solutions. We are looking for a talented and competitive Inside Sales Representative that thrives in a quick sales cycle environment. Compensation ranges from $34,320 + commissions and bonuses to over $100,000 including commission and bonuses. We also offer health benefits, 401K and paid time off. Please send cover letter and resume with salary requirements to ereynolds@liherald.com Call 516-569-4000 X286
Richner Communications, One of the Fastest Growing Media, Event and Communications Companies on Long Island is Seeking a Sales/Marketing Candidate to Sell our Print Media Products and our Digital, Events, Sponsorships. Earning potential ranges from $34,320 plus commission and bonuses to over $100,000 including commissions and bonuses. Compensation is based on Full Time hours Eligible for Health Benefits, 401k and Paid Time Off. Please Send Cover Letter and Resume with Salary Requirements to rglickman@liherald.com or Call 516-569-4000 X250
$19.30/hr.
based on availability (8:15am-11:45 am, 10:45am-2:15pm, 11:30am-3:00pm) Lunch/Recess Monitors $17.00/hr. • Monday-Friday; 10:50am-1:30pm Daily Substitute Teachers $125/day
• Monday-Friday as needed; 8:15am-3:15pm
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elcome to 4 Heron Court, a
Q. We have a doorbell camera, and understand that it’s a deterrent to would-be burglars, but as we’re renovating our home, are there other ways we can “design” in ways to keep people from robbing it? We keep seeing reports on the neighbor app of our door camera about people checking out houses in the area, and we’re very concerned. Any ideas would are appreciated.
A. People often plan the latest technology items into renovations, and I learn from my clients, all the time, about ideas they’ve researched, from locations for hidden cameras to sensor devices that tell them when people are approaching. Some clients ask about electronically controlled driveway gates, and I advise them that unless the fencing is also monitored, all they’re stopping is a vehicle.
When you have a very long driveway to the house, gates make sense, even if just to give the impression that the property is more secure, but when you can see the entrance from the street from the front door or windows, it’s a moot point to have a controlled driveway gate, because 80 percent of the time, burglars approach a home on foot, slipping around a gate, or over a short fence, to get to a more secluded spot to enter without being seen. With that in mind, outside areas of buildings that create hidden corners should be planned out of the design.
According to the National Center for Policing Innovation, the average burglar will spend no more than 60 seconds breaking in. If you can delay a break-in for 90 seconds or longer, a burglar may get nervous and leave. A hiding spot gives them extra time.
Fortify exterior doors with deadbolts that extend at least an inch and a half into the door frame. Glass doors in the front or back of a dwelling can be fortified by installing “hurricane”-strength glass instead of standard glazed doors, and sliding doors with a metal track rod can be effective. Hurricaneglass windows are much more costly than regular windows, but protect your home from burglars as well as storms.
Remember that even with an alarm system, which can be a deterrent, if a burglar has already had a look at the interior of your home and knows where to go, they will be in and out before any law enforcement gets there.
I was impressed that the police came to my home quickly when a door accidentally blew open, and checked every closet and potential hiding place before pronouncing the home secure. So if you come home to an open door or window, it’s advisable not to enter without calling the police for a safety check. It could save you from injury or worse, confronting a burglar.
Pet doors measuring more than six inches across should be avoided. Silly as it sounds, some burglars actually use a child to squeeze through a pet door and open the doors from the inside. More to come.
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people often ask me why I care so much about immigration.
Of course, my constituents care about it; they want to stop the chaos at the southern border and fix the asylum system, and they want to see people treated like human beings.
I agree with them. More than that, though, immigration is personal for me.
I look at America through the lens of the immigrant story — the story of my family, and the story of the American dream. My father came to this country as an infant. His parents — my grandparents — came from Italy with nothing. And yet, through hard work and devotion to family, they built a life here. Their son went to law school on the GI bill after serving in World War II, rising to become a mayor and a State Supreme Court justice. Their grandson is a member of the United States Congress.
An article that hung in my grandfather’s home, from Nov. 10, 1960, is titled “Success Story.” A segment reads:
“Glen Cove can be proud of its Mayor
it is said that each of us, if we’re lucky, gets 80 summers. Some folks prefer winter or the rebirth vibe of spring, but for most, it is summer, the short season of our years, that seems sweetest.
Summers have telescoped lives of their own. Whatever our age, summer begins in our minds as hopes and expectations, is realized in the days from June 21 to Sept. 21 and is remembered ever after.
The very first summer I remember was 1951, at Rockaway Beach, where we rented a bungalow on 54th Street. That was the Summer of My Sister, who had recently been born and, for some reason, expected to come along on our vacation. The fireworks on the boardwalk every Wednesday night were my big-sister treat, and best memory. There was the Summer of New Hampshire, when our parents took us on a much-hyped car trip to the Granite State. I was 8, my sister was 4 and our
Joseph A. Suozzi, who was elected to the State Supreme Court on Tuesday . . .
“Judge Suozzi came to these shores as an infant, the son of immigrant parents. Their lot was not an easy one, in a strange land, but Mr. and Mrs. Michael Suozzi raised a fine family, and while they lived comfortably, they did not gain great material wealth. But they did gain another kind of wealth which no Depression, no misfortune can ever take away from them. They devoted their lives to their family and their success of their children is their great fortune.
ieven wrote to the president, asking him to work with me on comprehensive reform.
“Now their boy, Joe, will soon be a Justice of the New York State Supreme Court. How proud they must be! And we who know them share their pride.
“Mike and Rosa Suozzi certainly made good in America. God bless them.”
That’s why I care about immigration. Through my own family, I’ve seen the promise of America fulfilled. But I also see how that promise is at risk — because our immigration system is broken, and Congress has failed to fix it. It’s painful for me that this issue by which I define my American experience has become such a negative, controversial force in our politics.
and why all of us should
Congress has failed for decades to pass comprehensive immigration reform because too many politicians have weaponized immigration policy for political gain without doing a thing to fix it. Even when bipartisan solutions emerge, they’re often derailed by political forces more interested in scoring points than solving problems.
Reasonable people should agree that violent criminals who are here illegally should be deported. But what’s happening now is far more chaotic. Parents who’ve lived here for years, send their kids to school with my kids, work six days a week and go to church on Sunday are living in fear.
We need to figure out a way for people who work, pay taxes and follow the rules to stop having to look over their shoulder. Families that have been here for decades deserve legal status so they can build lives for their children and grandchildren, like our family did.
We must secure the border, fix the broken asylum system, and create legal pathways for Dreamers, farm workers, TPS holders, essential workers in fields like health care and hospitality, and residents who’ve been here for over a decade.
Democrats and Republicans must come together. While President Trump has had remarkable success securing the border, he has done so through executive orders, which can easily be overturned. Real progress must come from Congress.
I’ll continue to do my part. I’ve worked toward comprehensive immigration reform as co-chair of the Democrats for Border Security Taskforce, as co-chair of the Problem Solvers Caucus, and through the bipartisan coalition I built of “business, badges and the Bible” — members of the business, law enforcement and religious communities who have longstanding stakes in American immigration policy.
I even wrote a letter to the president, asking him to work with me and make a deal on comprehensive reform. I’ve reached out, and I hope he reaches back.
We can uphold the law and our values. We can protect our borders and treat people with dignity. We can be safe and fair.
That’s the America my grandparents believed in when they arrived in this country. It’s the America I still believe in. And it’s the one we have to keep fighting for — together.
Tom Suozzi represents the 3rd Congressional District.
the summer of ’25 be remembered?
grandmother, who sat in the back seat, was ancient, I guess in her 50s. My father had made all the arrangements via mail, writing to Stonybrook Farms to set up our holiday. We drove 10 hours, pumped with excitement. When we drove through the broken gates, the moment collapsed on itself like a black hole. The cabins were like chicken coops. My mother started to sob. But Dad had a plan. We stayed one night, skipped out in the predawn hours and drove all the way to Canada. That summer I learned to have a Plan B, and how to skip out under cover of darkness.
i lived through the Summer of Love, but this summer is not feeling like love.
The Summer of Robert English was a doozie. I was about 15, living in Cedarhurst, and my mother’s best friend invited her nephew, 16, to visit for the summer from New Mexico. I fell wildly in love with Robert the second I saw him. Which was also how he felt when I introduced him to my best friend, Jackie. I barely survived their romance.
The Summer of Working for Dad was like pinning a golden moment in time. My dad was a dentist, and after my
freshman year in college, I worked in his office in Brooklyn. Chairside assistant. Holder of hands. But it wasn’t the work that made the summer remarkable; it was getting to know my father. We went out to lunch every day and we talked. Without the context of our regular family life, he became a real person to me.
Also, one of his patients gave me a $10 tip.
I remember the Summer of the Diet Doctor, when I answered an ad for an assistant in a diet-pill practice. The doctor was 48 and his wife was 18, my age. I remember that summer because I lied to get the job, not revealing that I was going back to college in the fall.
By July I couldn’t stand it; I told them the truth. They asked me to stay on. That was the good part. The bad part was that the doctor was a groper. Quite a few life lessons were learned.
Our best summers were the Montana Summers, the five years we traveled the state, from Missoula to Glacier Park, from Flathead Lake to White Fish to Helena. We hiked and learned to fly fish and, as a family and for the first time,
leaped out of our comfort zone and found footing in new terrain.
More recently, the Summer of Covid was, for us, not deadly, but frightening. We stayed at our place in Florida through the summer, hidden away inside, except for late afternoon, when we went down to the beach and into the Gulf. Every day, the same routine. We didn’t see our children and grandchildren for months. We think of that summer with gratitude, for our family surviving, and even for the endless open expanses of time to think and read and test ourselves against the unknown.
What will the Summer of ’25 be remembered for? I lived through the Summer of Love in 1967, high on freedom and music and just being young. We protested the war in Vietnam and sat in on sit-ins and danced to the Dead. But this summer is not feeling like love. Political strife ramped up by bad actors has supercharged the atmosphere.
I’ll keep calling out the threats to our freedoms and democracy, but that’s not a full-time job. I will also find the joyful moments, hold on to them and try not to let go.
Copyright 2025 Randi Kreiss. Randi can be reached at randik3@aol.com.
2
East mEadow
Established 2001
Incorporating
t happened in an instant. One moment, 9-year-old Robbie Levine, of Merrick, was rounding the bases in a 2005 Little League game; the next, he collapsed from sudden cardiac arrest.
Teammates, coaches and parents could only watch in horror. There was no automated external defibrillator available on the field, no trained bystander able to keep the boy’s heart beating until help arrived. Robbie never made it home.
Sudden cardiac arrest doesn’t wait — not for an ambulance, and not for advanced age. It strikes without warning, even in children and young athletes who seem perfectly healthy. That’s why learning cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and ensuring rapid access to an AED, can mean the difference between life and death.
Every minute without intervention in a cardiac emergency decreases survival by 10 percent, according to the American Heart Association, yet far too many public athletic fields — so many of them used by kids — remain unprepared for the worst.
Nassau County is taking a critical step with the proposed Robbie’s Law, legislation that would require AEDs at all county-run athletic fields. Named in memory of Robbie Levine, the measure underscores the urgent need to equip public spaces with lifesaving tools. It is unclear when the Legislature will vote on it.
This effort shouldn’t be controversial: AEDs are relatively easy to use, with clear voice instructions, designed for anyone — even those without medical training — to operate. When paired with immediate CPR, a defibrillator can increase a victim’s survival rate by more than 70 percent, according to the American Red Cross.
The American Heart Association estimates that nearly 90 percent of cardiac arrests that occur outside hospitals are fatal, often because bystanders don’t act quickly enough. Every second matters, because emergency medical services often take six to eight minutes to arrive in heavily populated areas. Brain death begins in as little as four minutes. Those first critical minutes belong to those on the scene and whatever tools they have on hand. Without AEDs, families lose loved ones not because paramedics were late, but because no one nearby was ready.
The AHA’s Nation of Lifesavers campaign aims to change that by making CPR training a more regular part of American life. Members of Duke University’s men’s basketball and football teams were recently trained in handsonly CPR — a streamlined method that doesn’t involve mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and can be mastered in under an hour. If elite college athletes can take the time to learn this lifesaving skill, so can
Editors’ note: This letter was sent on Monday to the Nassau County Legislature.
Nassau County’s government structure mirrors that of the federal government, with three equal branches: the county executive, the Legislature and the judicial branch. Like Congress, the Nassau Legislature crafts laws, controls the county’s purse strings, and oversees the county executive and various government entities. Therefore, it’s up to you to hold the reins on a county executive who overspends and writes policies that put your constituents in danger.
A police state is characterized by an overwhelming government control that permeates civil society and liberties. There is typically little distinction between the law and the exercise of political power by the executive, and the deployment of internal security and police forces play a heightened role in governance. A police state is a characteristic of an authoritarian government, typically in one-party governments. Nassau County is showing signs of becoming such a state.
County Executive Bruce Blakeman took the safest county in the nation, with a police force that is beyond reproach, and decided that it is not good
the rest of us.
Nassau’s Robbie’s Law must be just the beginning. CPR training should be as universal as learning to swim, or drive. Schools should make it a part of health class curriculums. Community centers, youth sports leagues and workplaces can host free or low-cost training sessions. The more people who know what to do when a heart stops, the more likely it is that bystanders will become confident rescuers.
AEDs should be as common as fire extinguishers — not just in gyms and schools, but also in parks, libraries, shopping centers and other places where people gather. They must be easy to locate, clearly marked, and regularly maintained. Nassau should follow the lead of Suffolk County, where at least 135 AEDs have been deployed across the county. The cost is modest; the value of a saved life is immeasurable.
We teach children to look both ways before crossing the street, to buckle their seat belts and to wear helmets when they ride bikes. CPR and AED familiarity deserve the same emphasis. No family should endure the heartbreak the Levines carry to this day.
Call your county legislator and tell them to support Robbie’s Law. To find your legislator, go to NassauCountyNy. gov/489/County-Legislature. And to find out where you can be trained in CPR and the use of an AED, go to RedCross.org.
enough. With the establishment of a personal militia, Blakeman’s authoritarian tendencies have raised significant concerns about public safety and accountability.
It is imperative for the Legislature to illuminate the financial implications of this decision, not only in terms of direct costs associated with maintaining such a force, but also the potential
nearly three decades ago, after reporting on severe Lyme disease cases on Long Island, I chose to receive a series of newly available vaccinations designed to prevent the illness following a tick bite.
In 1998, SmithKline Beecham introduced LYMErix, the first vaccine to help protect against Lyme disease. I received three doses from my family physician. I experienced no side effects, and although I was bitten by ticks in the years that followed, I never contracted Lyme disease.
In 2002, however, LYMErix was withdrawn from the market following a class-action lawsuit filed by 121 people who claimed they experienced adverse reactions, including arthritis, after being vaccinated.
Since then, Lyme disease has continued to surge across Long Island.
Testing now shows that about half of all deer ticks in the region carry the disease. Many physicians no longer wait for the telltale bull’s-eye rash before starting treatment — instead, they prescribe antibiotics immediately when they confirm a tick bite.
Tick-borne diseases, including Lyme, have also spread worldwide. Climate change has contributed to the problem, with warmer winters leading to fewer cold days that might otherwise reduce tick populations.
a
borne diseases in the U.S. has more than doubled.”
While no Lyme vaccine is currently available in the United States, several are under development. One candidate uses OspC protein antigens to provoke an immune response, and could be released in the coming years.
nd my experience helps make the case that a vaccine can work.
An article published last month in New Scientist, titled “Ticking Time Bomb,” described the global rise of tick-borne illnesses. It stated that ticks “represent a vast and growing reservoir of viral, parasitic and bacterial pathogens” and currently “carry more human-infecting pathogens than any other disease-carrying organism.”
The report noted that tick populations are expanding rapidly, and bringing a growing number of diseases with them. “In the past 20 years,” it said, “the annual number of cases of tick-
human and monetary liabilities that could arise from trigger-happy citizens who enjoy playing cop. The community deserves transparency regarding how taxpayer dollars are being allocated, especially when it comes to the exorbitant fees paid to politically connected attorneys defending unconstitutional policies. And the Legislature must investigate whether using our tax dollars to pay outside attorneys has been the purpose all along.
The Nassau County Police Department has long been regarded as a model of integrity and excellence in law enforcement, earning the trust and respect of the community it serves. However, there is a shortage of detectives on our streets. Knowing this, it is unconscionable that the Legislature permitted Blakeman to reassign 10 detectives from their vital roles to serve as ICE officers, compromising the safety of your constituents.
How much is this costing taxpayers? When will our Legislature take the initiative to hold hearings and investigate the repercussions of such decisions on our community’s safety? It is imperative that we prioritize the well-being of our neighborhoods and ensure that our law enforcement resources are effectively deployed to protect and serve all residents.
The NCPD’s mission statement promises to “strengthen and expand the partnerships between the police and the communities we serve.” Yet Blakeman’s cozy collaboration with ICE has thrown
a wrench into the NCPD partnership with the communities it serves. Parents are gripped by fear, hesitating to send their children to school or venture out for basic necessities like food or health care. The irony is inescapable: The very people who are supposed to protect us are now viewed with suspicion. Immigrants are hesitant to call for help in times of need.
Your constituents need to know where the money is going from the 1,400 immigrants detained in Blakeman’s mini-internment camp. With each staying for three days at $195 a day, Nassau is reaping profits from the deportation of primarily hardworking, taxpaying residents, many of whom have been contributing to the community for years and have no criminal record. If you intended to go into the prison business, shouldn’t it have been brought to a vote? The county should not be making money off deporting our immigrant neighbors and then turning a blind eye to the needs of the families left behind.
Out of an estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States, only 3 percent have criminal records, with 20 percent of those records consisting of minor traffic violations. Immigrants contribute 21 percent to the overall economy. Yet amid their tireless efforts as house cleaners, landscapers and restaurant workers, many are being suddenly swept away while their children — who may or may not be citizens — are left in school, wondering where their parents have gone.
A June article in Newsday reported that New York-based Pfizer Inc. and the French pharmaceutical company Valneva have developed a Lyme vaccine called VLA15. It is in latestage clinical trials, and could be submitted for Food and Drug Administration approval as early as 2026.
Still, the article noted that vaccine hesitancy may pose a barrier to widespread acceptance. “If this sounds familiar, that’s because it is,” the article stated, referencing the public pushback that followed LYMErix’s release in the late 1990s.
“A new shot for Lyme could face pushback,” the Newsday article’s headline, featured mixed public opinions. A retired police detective from East
Yaphank said, “I don’t get any shots.”
A woman from Bay Shore, however, said she would “for sure” get the new vaccine if it is approved by the FDA.
Additional resources on tick safety and disease prevention are available on Suffolk County’s Arthropod-Borne Disease Laboratory website, under the section “Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases.”
Meanwhile, the State Legislature recently passed a resolution unanimously requiring the state Department of Health and other agencies to publish a report detailing tick populations and tick-borne illnesses by county. The measure was introduced by Assemblyman Fred W. Thiele Jr., with co-sponsorship by Assemblyman Tommy John Schiavoni, of Sag Harbor.
“We need to fight this, and the only way to do so is to have timely and correct information at our fingertips,” Schiavoni said.
Carl Grossman has been an investigative reporter in a variety of media for more than 50 years. He is a professor of journalism at the State University of New York at Old Westbury whose courses include investigative reporting and environmental journalism.
This is happening in Nassau County.
The Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club is calling on the Legislature to fulfill its responsibilities of oversight and hold the reins on Blakeman’s authoritarian tendencies for a police state; investigate whether forming a private militia, taking detectives off the street, creating an internment camp and
masking law enforcement make us safer. Further, the Legislature must disclose to the public how tax dollars are being allocated to fund these unconstitutional initiatives and their defense.
CLAUDIA BOrECKY President, Bellmore Merrick Democratic Club
mountsinai.org/southnassau